The Home Secretary will announce the measures in a speech, where she will say: "We will take the comprehensive approach necessary to make sure that our sons and daughters are protected and our streets are safe.

"As a government, we will never stand by while acid is thrown or knives wielded.

"I am clear that we must do whatever it takes to tackle this so that no parents has to bury their child."

'You see people die, you see people bleed'

The Serious Violence Strategy will focus on issues such as violent drug-dealing gangs and so-called "county lines" where children are used as couriers across the UK.

The measures include £3.6m to set up a new National County Lines Coordination Centre.

Detective Superintendent Lee Turner, from Merseyside Police, says more and more children are being set up in the houses of drug users by gangs and coerced into dealing.

"The opportunity to increase the level of drug supply by organised crime groups, not just in the area that they live but much further afield, is something that they are exploiting," he said.

"They are using these young people and vulnerable individuals to do that.

Knife crime: 'I stabbed him for his Rolex'

"So the problem is huge and we need to improve our education around it - to look for the trigger signs very similar to along the lines that we did for child sexual exploitation.

"Is your child going missing regularly? Are they coming in with goods and gifts? Are they demonstrating strange behaviour? Are they in receipt of some money? Are they going away from home for long periods of time?"

London murder spike 'not a crisis'

According to figures quoted by the Home Office between 2014-15 and 2016-17, murders where either the suspect or victim were known to be involved in using or dealing drugs rose from 50% to 57%.

Crack cocaine markets are also described as having strong links to serious violence, with evidence suggesting its use is increasing in England and Wales.

Social media is again being partly blamed for the spread and facilitation of drug-market violence by offenders using platforms as a way of glamorising gang life, and to taunt rivals.

'Acid attackers should face life'

Sheldon Thomas, from Gangsline, said cuts to police forces is a "serious problem", adding: "Whether we want to admit it or not we do need police officers on streets."

He continued: "I think society has to take a look at itself... most of the young people involved in it come from families where there is no father figure, no positive male role models.

"We are looking at mothers who are struggling to raise kids on their own, mothers who have their own issues.

"Strategy is good but we are not tackling the root cause which is family breakdown and absent fathers which we are not tackling."

Govt says violent attacks across London have nothing to do with police cuts

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott claimed the Government "has only just woken up to the problem of rising violent crime".

She said: "Acknowledging the need to tackle causes as well as effects of violent crimes is welcome but the money committed is very small scale.

"I am appealing to the Home Secretary to commit to no further decline in police numbers for as long as this Government is in office."

Caroline Shearer, who lost her son Jay Whiston when he was stabbed at a house party in 2012, told Sky News: "A lot of things have got to change and they have got to change quickly.

"All we are doing is going round and round in circles and it's driving me crazy.

"I can see the hurt in these kids and I can see some of these kids really do want some help.